Diagnosis of Narcolepsy

If you have classic symptoms of
narcolepsy, such as involuntary sleep attacks and weakness attacks, diagnosis of your disorder may be simple. If your doctor isn’t sure whether your symptoms are caused by narcolepsy, other tests may be ordered, such as:

Polysomnogram tests—For this test, you’ll have to spend the night in a sleep center. Tiny electrodes will be attached to various areas of your body in order to closely monitor your heart rate, eye movements, brain waves, and muscle activity throughout the night. Monitors will also record information about your breathing, changes in the concentration of oxygen in your blood, and your body position.

Multiple sleep latency test—This test is usually done the day after the polysomnogram. With the same set of electrodes still attached, you’ll be asked to take a series of 20-minute naps, every 2 hours throughout the day. The electrodes collect information about how quickly you fall asleep and how quickly you reach various levels of sleep, particularly rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Questionnaires will also be used.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

What is narcolepsy? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Institutes of Health
website. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/nar/nar%5Fwhat.html.
Updated November 1, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2013.